Breast Cancer’s Grip

A little over a year ago, my mom called to tell me she had been diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. The steadiness in her voice and the positive outlook she inhabited set the tone for her year of treatment, which was consumed with doctor’s appointments and weeks of feeling miserable. She told me, “I don’t think you ever totally understand how much your body can fail you until you go through something like this.” In this last year, we became closer, and we’re thankful she’s now cancer-free. The following stories encapsulate her journey, from her perspective and mine.